The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been managing the construction of
the largest clear-span building in the Middle East. The corps has been
directing the project for a Mi-17 helicopter hangar at Taji Air Force Base, Middle East Newsline reported.
The facility, spanning 76 meters (without intermediate support) as well as
15 meters high, was designed to house six Mi-17 maintenance bays. Officials
said the Iraq Air Force plans to acquire dozens of Mi-17s over the next few
years.
The Mi-17 hangar project has been led by prime contractor Almco Ltd.,
responsible for additional construction at Taji. The hangar was meant to
also contain back shops and office space for a central aircraft maintenance
organization.
The Iraq Air Force has also been overseeing the construction of an air
traffic control tower, a bulk fuel station and a squadron operations
building at Taji. The squadron facility was meant to contain an Mi-17
simulator. Officials reported the total cost of these projects at $21
million.
"The goal is to provide the Iraqi Air Force with a fully operational air
field here at Taji," U.S. Army 1st Lt. Charles Dossett said. "Each of these
facilities will enable the Iraqi Air Force to conduct full scale rotary
missions, maintenance, and training for their squadron."
The Air Force has been hampered by a shortage of maintenance facilities.
Currently, Taji, with 20 Mi-17 and 20 U.S.-origin UH-1 Huey helicopters,
contains a hangar that can fit one helicopter at a time, leaving disabled
platforms on the tarmac.
Officials said the new air traffic control tower was designed to reach
30 meters high, double that of the current facility. They said the new tower
would also contain state-of-the-art equipment, including radars and
communications. The contractor for Taji's bulk fuel station was
identified as Middle East Engineering.
The projects, at least one of which was reported to have been delayed,
were all scheduled for completion by mid-2011. By that time, officials said
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would leave Iraq.
"It took a while to get the designs right, but I firmly believe we are
providing the IqAF a top-notch facility," Dossett said.
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